Combination mouse and track ball unit

ABSTRACT

A combined mouse and track ball are contained within an ergonomically designed housing or shell. The shell is curved to fit comfortably within the palm of the hand of an operator so that the forefinger and thumb are opposed to each other in a prehensile position. A single shell is operable by a left-handed or right-handed operator by rotation of a switch to change the alignment of the sensor pickups engaging the roller ball of the combined mouse and track ball. At least one switch plate extends across an upper surface of the shell for depression by a forefinger of the operator. The switch plate is pivoted about a central fulcrum so as to have a cursor shifted to a position above an icon located on a computer screen for depression of the switch plate and initiation of the computer function indicated.

This application is related to design application Ser. No. 07/941,194,filed Sep. 4, 1992 for a Unified Track Ball/Mouse.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to computer usage of a cursor control unithaving a shell convertible between a mouse and a track ball.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A computer is usually equipped to use a "mouse" for movement of a cursorand initiating other functions of the computer. It is oftentimes,however, fatiguing to the operator to use a mouse repeatedly over thecourse of a day which can result in severe physical strain. Further,specialized equipment has been developed for left versus right-handedcomputer operators using a mouse. This can add expense to a manufacturerand a retailer to stock a left-hand use mouse and a right-hand usemouse.

An alternate system for controlling movement of a cursor is by the useof a track ball. Oftentimes mounted in front of or to one side of akeyboard, a roller ball of the track ball is rotated to shift a cursor.

The use of a mouse or track ball are alternative systems for controllinga single cursor. Therefore, two pieces of equipment are required if anoperator desires the ability to switch back and forth between a trackball and a mouse.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

By the present invention, a combined mouse and track ball are containedwithin an ergonomically designed housing or shell. The shell is curvedto fit comfortably within the palm of the hand of an operator so thatthe forefinger and thumb are opposed to each other in a prehensileposition. A single shell is operable by a left-handed or right-handedoperator by rotation of a switch to change the alignment of the sensorpickups engaging the roller ball of the combined mouse and track ball.

At least one switch plate extends across an upper surface of the shellfor depression by a forefinger of the operator. The switch plate ispivoted about a central fulcrum so as to have a cursor shifted to aposition above an icon located on a computer screen for depression ofthe switch plate and initiation of the computer function indicated.

To shift from a mouse function to a track ball function, a plurality ofbullet switches are depressed so as to be recessed above the lowermostperipheral surface of the roller ball. The shell then performs a mousefunctioning. To switch to a track ball function, the shell is againdepressed to cause the bullet switches to project from the base of theshell and thereby lift the lowermost peripheral surface of the rollerball above the plane formed by the lowermost edge of the bullet switchesor a plane defined between the lowermost edges of the bullet switchesand the shell.

Rotation of the roller ball through a front peripheral surface bycontact with the thumb of the operator serves to change the position ofa cursor. A forefinger located above the switch plate is aligned withthe thumb in a prehensile position.

In switching between a track ball and mouse functions, a thumb wheelswitch is rotated to one of three positions dependent upon operation ofthe device as a track ball or for left-hand mouse usage or right-handmouse usage. Rotation of the thumb wheel changes the position of thehorizontal-vertical pickups in contact with the roller ball. To achievesynonymous directionality of cursor movement dependent upon thumbmovement of the track ball or mouse hand movement, both the horizontaland vertical pickups are rotated 45 degrees in shifting from the trackball to the mouse mode dependent upon a left-hand usage versus aright-hand usage.

The shell of the mouse and track ball is symmetrically designed forright or left-hand usage. Due to the design of the at least one cursorswitch plate, the shell fits all hand sizes.

The shell of the combined mouse/track ball is used with the hand of auser disposed substantially in a prehensile position with the thumbopposed to the fingers in a grasping position. A roller ball on a frontsurface of the combined mouse/track ball is used for controlling themovement of a cursor and is operated by the thumb of the user. Ulnarabduction and hand-pronation are reduced by using the combinedmouse/track ball, thus reducing the incidence of carpal tunnel syndrome.

A mouse/track ball of the invention particularly reduces the onset ofseverity of, or can prevent entirely, repetitive strain injuries, andother neurological or orthopedic malfunctions, such as tendonitis andtenosynovitis, that are commonly related to usage of a flat andrectangular-type mouse. Stresses on the traditional mouse-user, asidefrom full hand-pronation, is produced by an air-gap separating a portionof the palm and the forefinger/middle finger from the shell surface ofthe mouse. The shell of the mouse is held by the thumb and the ringfinger/little finger. This is unnatural and unpreferred, as opposed topreferred "tridactyl" holding of objects between the thumb andforefinger/middle finger. Excessive articulation of the middle anddistal joints of the forefinger/middle finger in actuating thecursor-control buttons can also cause stress. In this position,percussion of each switch plate is executed in a direction which isessentially away from the action and the range of motion of the oppositethumb.

In contrast, when a hand is positioned for using a biometrically formed,combined mouse/track ball, the hand is advantageously in a prehensileorientation with the ventral surfaces of the thumb and fingers of a handin opposed positions similar to the positions used for grasping a smallobject between the thumb and a finger. Prehensility, because itincreases the total tactile familiarity with the combination mouse/trackball, can reduce the level of stress on the fingers, hand and wrist.

Advantageously, the entire palm and forefinger/middle finger surface isfully supported by the shell of the invention. There is minimalarticulation of the metacarpophalangeal (MCP) joint(s) offorefinger/middle finger to actuate the cursor-control buttons.

When used as a trackball, because virtually the entire hand is fullysupported by the shell, there is no stress upon the thumb in its variousmovements which by friction rotate the trackball. For the same reasonthe thumb can use the shell surface surrounding the trackball as a"friction-brake" to allow for very fine trackball movements.

A molded shell combined mouse/track ball of the invention having acurvature of a shell which slopes downwardly and away from a comfortablepalm rest position allows the hands to be positioned in the optimumprehensile position with a straight hand-wrist posture. This position issubstantially stressless when compared with the hand position used foroperating a conventional mouse because it permits a relatively straighthand-wrist position and less hand pronation. Carpal tunnel syndrome andother neurological or orthopedic malfunctions are not likely to bemanifested while using the combined mouse/track ball described.

The user actuates the cursor control unit in a natural grasp/palmarpinch motion with the hands in a prehensile position, without having toflex the fingers during use and without having to be attuned for a leftor right-handed person, other than by a simple switch adjustment.

The cursor control unit or roller ball is operated by the user's thumbby pressing the roller ball inward. Pressure on a portion of the rollerball causes the cursor to move on the display screen in the direction ofthe portion of the roller ball pressed. The hand is in a prehensileposition with the fingers and thumb of a hand in a grasping posture whenusing the cursor control unit to effectuate precisely refined movementand placement of the cursor on the screen. The cursor control unit mayinclude a roller ball surface which rotates within a yoke to controldirection of rotation of two sensor pickup switches extendingperpendicular to each other.

A roller ball extends through the vertical front face of the shell. Theroller ball controls cursor movement according to a clock face system.Pressure on different parts of the roller ball moves the cursor indifferent directions. For example, pressure on the twelve o'clockposition of the roller ball moves the cursor upwards, pressure on thethree o'clock position moves the cursor to the right and pressure on thenine o'clock position moves the cursor to the left. Pressure on otherpositions of the roller ball moves the cursor in correspondingdirections. The roller ball may be activated by either thumb pressinginward toward its respective forefinger to effect a fine movementcontrol over the cursor. It is necessary to shift a control switch toprovide for use of the unit as a mouse for a left-handed versusright-handed operator.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to combine a trackball and a mouse in a single housing.

It is another object of the present invention to combine a track balland a mouse in a single housing with the combined unit being switchablebetween operating as a mouse and operating as a track ball.

It is still yet another object of the present invention to combine atrack ball and a mouse in a single housing with the combined unit beingswitchable between operating as a mouse and operating as a track ballwith at least one switch plate mounted on the unit for actuation of acomputer function dependent upon a location of a cursor.

It is still yet another object of the present invention to combine atrack ball and a mouse in a single housing with the combined unit beingswitchable between operating as a mouse and operating as a track ballwith at least one switch plate mounted on the unit for actuation of acomputer function dependent upon a location of a cursor and the unitused as a mouse is used by both left-handed and right-handed operators.

These and other objects of the invention, as well as many of theintended advantages thereof, will become more readily apparent whenreference is made to the following description take in conjunction withthe accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a combined mouse and track ball unit.

FIG. 2 is a side view thereof.

FIG. 3 is a bottom view thereof.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 4--4 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 5--5 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along line 6--6 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 7 is a schematic view of two pickup sensors changeable in positionby rotation of a thumb wheel.

FIGS. 8 and 9 schematically illustrate a differentiation of orientationof the X-Y coordinates about which a cursor is moved by rotation of aroller ball.

FIG. 10 illustrates the combined mouse and track ball unit in a trackball mode.

FIG. 11 illustrates the combined mouse and track ball unit in a mousemode.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

In describing a preferred embodiment of the invention illustrated in thedrawings, specific terminology will be resorted to for the sake ofclarity. However, the invention is not intended to be limited to thespecific terms so selected, and it is to be understood that eachspecific term includes all technical equivalents which operate in asimilar manner to accomplish a similar purpose.

With reference to the drawings, in general, and to FIGS. 1 through 3, inparticular, a combined mouse and track ball unit embodying the teachingsof the subject invention is generally designated as 20. With referenceto its orientation in FIG. 1, the combined track ball and mouse unitincludes a housing or shell 22 which contains a roller ball 24projecting through a lateral opening 26 defined in a front verticallyrising surface 28 of the shell 22. On opposite lateral sides of thesurface 28 are curved portions 30 which lead into vertically rising sidesurfaces 32. The side surfaces 32 are rounded at an opposite lateraledge to that of curved portions 30 to join with vertically rising rearsurface 34.

The top surface 36 as shown in FIG. 2 slopes rearwardly from uppercurved edge 38 of curved portions 30 and tapers downwardly towardscurved edge 40 intersecting top surface 36 and vertically rising rearsurface 34. The overall curvature of the shell 22 is such that the shellfits comfortably in the palm of the hand of the operator with the thumbaligned to engage the roller ball 24 and the forefinger and/or middlefinger to lie above one of the two switch plates 42 and 44.

The switch plates 42, 44 are V-shaped and extend across the entire widthof the top surface 36. The switch plates 42 44 are pivoted about acentral fulcrum 46, 48, respectively.

A thumb wheel 50 protrudes from a lower portion of the top surface 36.The thumb wheel is rotated for control of the unit to operate as eithera mouse or as a track ball.

Extending rearwardly from vertically rising rear surface 34 is anelectrical connection line 52 which is connected to a computer fortransmission of electric signals to convey changes in coordinates for acursor of a computer terminal connected to the computer. By rotation ofthe roller ball 24, by the thumb of the operator passing into theopening 26 defined in the surface 28, the unit 20 is operated as a trackball.

To convert the unit 20 to operation as a mouse, the unit 20 is presseddownward so that the bullet switches 54 located on the bottom of theunit are depressed and are locked in a retracted position within theshell 22. With the bullet switches retracted, a lowermost peripheralsurface 56 of the roller ball 24, which protrudes through an opening 58in the bottom of the shell, is lowered to engage with a surface 60 uponwhich the unit rests. In FIG. 3, four bullet switches 54 are shown,however, it is only necessary that two bullet switches located along aleading edge of the unit be used with the trailing edge of the unitcontacting the plane of the surface upon which the unit is placed.

In FIGS. 2, 4 and 10, the unit is shown as it would be to be operated asa track ball since the lowermost peripheral surface 56 of the rollerball 24 is elevated above the surface 60. However, in FIG. 11, it isshown that when the bullet switches 54 are retracted, the lowermostperipheral surface 56 of the roller ball 24 contacts the surface 60 foroperation as a mouse.

By removal of screws 62 extending from the bottom 64 into the shell, thebottom 64 can be removed so that the roller ball 24 can be insertedwithin a yoke 66 as shown in FIG. 5 and extend through opening 26 in thesurface 28 and through opening 58 in the bottom 64 of the unit 20.

The yoke 66 includes semi-circular portion 68 having two radiallyinwardly projecting tabs 70 for engagement with a peripheral surface ofthe roller ball 24. A first pickup sensor 72 is mounted in thesemi-circular portion 68 for engagement with a rear peripheral surfaceof the roller ball. In the position shown for the pickup sensor 72 inFIGS. 4 and 5, the unit is operated as a track ball.

The semi-circular portion 68 includes a plurality of radially outwardlyextending teeth 74 for shifting the position of the yoke for changingthe operation of the unit from a track ball to a mouse or from a mouseto a track ball. As shown in FIG. 4, an arm 76 of the yoke extendsupwardly from the semi-circular portion 68 of the yoke. A laterallyextending arm portion 78 connects arm 76 to a pivot pin 80 securedwithin the wall 82 of the unit 20.

Located below the pivot pin 80 and the arm extension 78 is a secondpickup sensor 84 which engages the roller ball 24 at a highestperipheral surface of the roller ball. The pickup sensor 84 is alsopivotable with the yoke 66.

As is known for the operation of a mouse, the change of position of theroller ball turns two slotted wheels mounted at right angles to eachother and which are rotated by rotation of a roller of the pickup sensorwhich contacts the roller ball. Each wheel includes two light-emittingdiodes and two photodiodes. As the wheels turn, light shines through theslots and produces an electric signal in the photodiodes. The signalsfrom the wheels are transmitted by electrical wires 86, 88, for eachpickup sensor 72, 74, respectively, to a circuit board 90 and thentransmitted to the computer for processing by electrical connection line52 containing several electrical transmission wires.

The yoke 66 is pivoted about pivot pin 80 for shifting the position ofthe pickup sensor 72 with respect to the roller ball dependent upon theuse of the unit as a mouse or as a track ball and when used as a mouse,if being used by a left-handed or a right-handed operator. Thumb wheel50 includes three detents. One locks the thumb wheel in a centralposition for operation of the unit as a track ball. Of the twoadditional detents, one is located on each side of the central positionof the thumb wheel used for operation of the unit as a track ball, so asto operate the unit as a mouse for a left-handed and a right-handedoperator.

Rotation of the thumb wheel 50 about its shaft 92 causes rotation of agear 94 about its shaft 96. Shafts 92 and 96 are anchored in ahorizontal extension plate 98 extending inwardly from rear surface 34 ofthe shell. The teeth of gear 94 engage with the teeth 74 of thesemi-circular, portion 68 of the yoke 66. Since the gear 94 isinterposed between the thumb wheel 50 and the teeth 74 of thesemi-circular portion 68, rotation of the thumb wheel 50 in onedirection causes rotation of the yoke in the same direction. Of course,the gear 94 will rotate in an opposite direction to that of both thethumb wheel and the semi-circular portion 68 of the yoke 66.

As schematically shown in FIG. 7, when the thumb wheel 50 is located inposition No. 1, it is the stop position of the thumb wheel for trackball usage. This position is shown in FIG. 5 and schematically shown asposition No. 6 for the pickup sensor 72 for horizontal motion pickup oftrack ball usage.

Shifting the thumb wheel 50 to position No. 2 shifts the pickup sensor72 to position No. 8 for the horizontal motion pickup for use of theunit as a mouse for a right-handed operator. Similarly, shifting theposition of the thumb wheel to position No. 3, the pickup sensor 72 isshifted to position No. 4 for usage of the unit as a mouse with aleft-handed operator.

Similarly, during rotation of the thumb wheel, the vertical motionpickup sensor 84 would be shifted between positions 0, 5 and 7,respectively.

In FIG. 8, line 9 schematically represents an up or down thumb actuatedrotation of the roller ball in a track ball operation to producevertical cursor movement. Similarly, line 10 simulates side-to-sidethumb actuated movement of the roller ball to provide horizontal cursormovement.

By the shifting of the thumb wheel 50, for example to position No. 3,line 11 of FIG. 9 now represents front-to-back mouse movement to producevertical cursor movement and line 12 illustrates lateral mouse movementto produce horizontal cursor movement. Comparison of FIGS. 8 and 9 showsthe change of the path of movement of the roller ball to produce similarvertical and horizontal cursor movement between mouse and track ballusage.

When the cursor is moved to be positioned above an icon on the screen ofthe computer terminal, and an indication is to be made to the computerthat the function represented by the icon is to be performed, eitherswitch plate 42 or 44 is actuated. As shown in FIG. 5, both switchplates 42 and 44 are V-shaped and extend between opposite sides of theunit. Depression of side 42A of switch plate 42 causes actuation of amicroswitch 100 by a right-handed operator. When the unit is used by aleft-handed operator, switch portion 42B is actuated to engagemicroswitch 102. Microswitches 100 and 102 transmit a similar signal tothe computer to indicate that switch plate 42 has been depressed.Similarly, switch plate 44 includes portions 44A and 44B withmicroswitches 104 and 106, respectively, for indication of depression ofthe switch plate 44.

By the positioning of the switch plates 42 and 44 across the unit, notonly can left and right-handed operators be accommodated, but also whilebeing used by a right-handed child, whose fingers may not reachsufficiently across the unit to actuate switch portion 42A, may depressswitch portion 42B and cause actuation of microswitch 102. Therefore, itis only critical that the thumb wheel 50 be properly positioned when theunit is used as a mouse for a right-handed or left-handed operator,solely for proper alignment of the movement of the roller ball asconverted to movement of a cursor on a computer terminal.

Advantageously, the shape of the shell is such that the fingers of theoperator are in a prehensile position for relieving fatigue andproviding a comfortable fit to the hand of the operator. The sculptedshape of the unit thereby is aesthetically pleasing and as well asfunctional.

Having described the invention, many modifications thereto will becomeapparent to those skilled in the art to which it pertains withoutdeviation from the spirit of the invention as defined by the scope ofthe appended claims.

I claim:
 1. A cursor control unit comprising:a shell, a roller ballrotatably mounted in said shell, said roller ball extending through twoopenings in said shell, and shift means for elevating and lowering saidshell so that said shell is usable as a mouse in a first position ofsaid shift means and said shell is usable as a track ball in a secondposition of said shift means, two pickup sensors in contact with saidroller ball with one of said two pickup sensors being movable, said onepickup sensor being movable between a first position for use of theshell as a track ball, a second position for use of the shell as a mousewith left-handed operators, and a third position for use of the shell asa mouse with right-handed operators.
 2. A cursor control unit accordingto claim 1, wherein said shell includes at least one switch plateextending substantially across an entire width of said shell with saidat least one switch plate being usable by a left or right-handedoperator by contacting different portions of said at least one switchplate.
 3. A cursor control unit according to claim 2, wherein said shellis shaped to align a hand of an operator cradling said shell in theirpalm so that the fingers are located adjacent to said at least oneswitch plate and the thumb is adjacent to one of said two openings insaid shell with the thumb and the fingers located in a prehensileposition.
 4. A combined mouse and track ball unit comprising:a shell, aroller ball rotatably mounted in said shell and extending through twoopenings in said shell, shift means for shifting use of said roller ballbetween use as a mouse and use as a track ball, and two pickup sensorscontacting said roller ball and being movable dependent upon use of saidroller ball as a mouse or as a track ball, said shell being shapedsymmetrically to align either hand of an operator cradling said shell intheir palm so that the fingers are located on top of said shell and thethumb is located adjacent to one of said two openings in said shell withthe thumb and the fingers located in a prehensile position.
 5. Acombined mouse and track ball unit according to claim 4, wherein saidshell includes at least one switch plate extending substantially acrossan entire width of said shell with said at least one switch plate beingusable by a left or right-handed operator by contacting differentportions of said at least one switch plate.
 6. A combined mouse andtrack ball unit according to claim 4, wherein said shell includes meansfor elevating and lowering said shell with respect to a planar surface.7. A cursor control unit comprising:a shell, a roller ball rotatablymounted in said shell, said roller ball extending through two openingsin said shell, and shift means for elevating and lowering said shell sothat said shell is usable as a mouse in a first position of said shiftmeans and said shell is usable as a track ball in a second position ofsaid shift means, at least one switch plate extending substantiallyacross an entire width of said shell with said at least one switch platebeing usable by a left or right-handed operator by contacting differentportions of said at least one switch plate, and said shell beingsymmetrically shaped to align either hand of an operator cradling saidshell in their palm so that the fingers are located adjacent to said atleast one switch plate and the thumb is adjacent to one of said twoopenings in said shell with the thumb and the fingers located in aprehensile position.
 8. A cursor control unit according to claim 7wherein said roller ball contacts two pickup sensors.
 9. A cursorcontrol unit according to claim 8, wherein one of said two pickupsensors is movable.
 10. A cursor control unit according to claim 9,wherein said one pickup sensor is movable between a first position foruse of the shell as a track ball, a second position for use of the shellas a mouse with left-handed operators, and a third position for use ofthe shell as a mouse with right-handed operators.
 11. A cursor controlunit comprising:a shell, a roller ball rotatably mounted in said shell,said roller ball extending through two openings in said shell, and shiftmeans for elevating and lowering said shell so that said shell is usableas a mouse in a first position of said shift means and said shell isusable as a track ball in a second position of said shift means, atleast one switch plate on said shell with said at least one switch platebeing usable by a left or right-handed operator, and said shell beingsymmetrically shaped to align either hand of an operator cradling saidshell in their palm so that the fingers are located adjacent to said atleast one switch plate and the thumb is adjacent to one of said twoopenings in said shell with the thumb and the fingers located in aprehensile position.
 12. A cursor control unit according to claim 11,wherein said roller ball contacts two pickup sensors.
 13. A cursorcontrol unit according to claim 11, wherein one of said two pickupsensors is movable.
 14. A cursor control unit according to claim 13,wherein said one pickup sensor is movable between a first position foruse of the shell as a track ball, a second position for use of the shellas a mouse with left-handed operators, and a third position for use ofthe shell as a mouse with right-handed operators.